The Importance Of Education

I started my journey into sobriety not for the right reason but for all the wrong reasons. I was doing it for my family, for my health, for my future and for everyone else in my life. I forgot the most important reason – for MYSELF.

Unfortunately, that situation didn’t go as planned and living further away from my job with no car caused me to lose my job. Losing my job put an extreme amount of stress on my family, due to not having money to pay the bills or to support my pill habit. At this point in time I knew I had a problem with narcotics and needed help. I put it off when Tim got a job thinking that I could support my habit again. Things got better for a while until Tim started using painkillers with me. Tim had gone so long trying to encourage me to stop, that he started using them with me. It was fun using together for a few months; until I found out we were going to have a baby. Now, we were both addicted to narcotics, had no vehicle, struggling just to get by financially, with a seven year old girl and a two year old girl. I knew something had to change because we were both too weak to help each other get clean. Due to this, we decided it was best to move in with my father. When I made the call to my father to confess my addiction, tears started running down my face. Admitting to my dad my struggle with narcotics was hard because I didn’t want to be a disappointment to him however, I needed to get help and the first step was to be honest and admit I had a problem.

Throughout life one will encounter many experiences and there is a lesson in each experience. I have embraced the experiences, learned from them and will use them to show others that there is life after drug abuse and incarceration.

Just over a year ago I was homeless, pregnant, and sleeping in a tent on the grassy median next to the beach in Waikiki. Twelve years of hard drinking, two years of shooting meth, a failed marriage, abusive relationships, and losing custody of my oldest child brought me to this self-centered existence. I was battling depression and struggling to stay clean and sober. I did not see a future for me and feared I would lose my youngest child to CPS. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to get help. I reached out and on December 2, 2013 I entered the Salvation Army Family Treatment Services (SAFTS), a residential drug treatment facility in Kaimuki. My journey to recovery had begun.

I started talking to him about how the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous started to stay sober only by chatting with each other. I reminded him of the “Big Book” of AA. I reminded him of a passage in the Big Book, of Alcoholics Anonymous; But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such and understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished. (Pg. 18)

I was blessed to grow up in a clean and healthy community, with a supportive family, and tons of friends by my side. These people have encouraged me to keep going, and not give up faith. Although I have hit bumps in the road, I have constantly had to keep in mind that in the end, everything is going to end up just fine. Furthermore, using my past experiences, I have used the encouragement I received from others to stay determined, and keep persevering. An example of this is my love and devotion towards soccer.

Judi, it was a pleasure to read your post it was straight to the point about substance abusers. I agree with you about not realizing how chemical substances affect the human brain and body. Judi you express how love and support was shown at the AA meeting and I agree. However, the only thing I did not understand how each attendee remind them that they are an alcoholic, I think they have a better chance to relapse, with that type of motivation. The substance abusers have a better chance to stay sober with a more positive perception, like saying I am no longer an alcoholic. The whole key to sobriety is to reprogram the mind, this way the abuser will not retain negative information of being an ex-alcoholic. I like how you think addicts should

The third and final stage of recovery is known as late recovery, and involves a client finding growth and meaning in life. In this stage, relapse may be less frequent as a sense of purpose is found. As this stage is found only by enduring great challenges, a client may not be as tempted by relapse and the act of back tracking in their recovery may seem tiresome and unworthy of their time. However, though a deep awareness of the consequences of substance abuse is profound, relapse is still possible if an addict forgets that he or she has a disease that is incurable and succumbs to the enticement of “just this one time can’t hurt” or has the thought that “I have been clean for so long. I am cured.” Bill W. stated in his book Alcoholics Anonymous that “This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it-this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish” (pg. 34). Complete abstinence is the only choice for those with the disease of addiction, and so many recovering addicts forget this simple realization in the late recovery stage.

I observed the people skimming the room seeking comfort in something or someone. As I attempted to mingle, this lady stopped me to compliment my shoes. We talked for maybe 15 minutes about the reason why we were both here. I told her that this was my first time, and she congratulated me on coming to see how everything goes here. She explained of the differences between having people there through the process verses trying to quit on without guidance. She shared with me the harsh reality of addiction. She stated, “I couldn’t help it. It was like the drinks were calling out

For years, many new and innovative recovery options have sprouted up in response to the growing population of addicts in America. Although each individual program has the same ultimate goal, they each take a different approach. The specific approach taken by each program is what can make or break the success of recovery for an addict. The most popular of these programs are twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, twelve-step programs are not the only options available. Despite their popularity, twelve-step programs lack the personal qualities that some secular programs offer. What's more is that these programs do not cater to individual needs and differences, therefore

Waking up sober for the first time in weeks, face wet, implanted on a dirt embedded floor, inside an abandoned motel, in the middle of Palm Springs. I was crying in my sleep. I needed to run from myself; instead I reached for another needle. If I remained sober for too many minutes I would have to realize where I was and what I had become.” I come from a picturesque family. I have a loving mother and father, two sisters, and a brother. My childhood was everything I could of wanted. I played sports, rode motocross, and even had horses. I can still recall my parents telling me, “Never do drugs, drugs will kill you.” Well, my parents were right… almost. My brother was the first to bring drugs into my life. A little hit of marijuana wouldn’t hurt,

It took awhile for me to recover, and it wasn't easy. There were relapses, but my friends and family were always there helping me. I owe a great deal to my friends. They helped me more than they realize, and I'm forever grateful to have them in my

“You can get anything that you want out of life as long as you believe in yourself,” is what my grandfather told me every day until he left us three years ago. I did not realize what he meant, but now that I do I am actively working to accomplish the things that I have always dreamed of; to eliminate the criminal record that I gained during my period of addiction, to purchase and maintain a home that supports a monastic way of living, and to adopt a second and third child. None of these goals come without compromise, determination, sacrifice, or working hard, but I am determined to work toward them to ensure that I can live the best possible life that I can. If not only for myself, but for my family, and our future children.

I’m now two years clean and nineteen years old. I miraculously have a year and a half old, healthy baby girl. I thank God every day for my child and for Megan, my friend who decided to help me, and her mother. Without them I would probably still be a junkie and probably would have either had an abortion or given up my child. I ask God every day for the strength to live my life to the fullest and to raise my child with the love and protection I never

So this is for all my friends and family whom are going through or have people in their lives going through the trials and tribulations of staying clean and sober. Forgive me if it gets a bit emotional and long-winded, but shit is going to get real and it’s part of my healing I guess.